Civil Rights and Incarceration
In this lesson students view and take notes on a 10-minute newsreel describing the evacuation and relocation of Japanese Americans from western states during World War II. Students analyze the movie using a handout. Questions focus students’ attention on analyzing the government’s case for the necessity of the incarceration. This newsreel activity and a set of introductory readings, pictures, and interviews make up the recommended core of the lesson. Most of the remaining eight activities, by contrast, illustrate the Japanese American perspective on the incarceration. Each activity is organized around a different type of primary source, including photographs, diaries, autobiographies, poetry, and theater. Classroom activities range from analyzing textual and visual sources to performing scripted dramatic readings. Some activities include potentially challenging reading material, but teachers can tailor the lesson to the needs of their students by choosing from the many options available. We think that teachers will appreciate the diversity, high quality, clear presentation, and emotional resonance of the materials provided by this lesson.
Notes
Teachinghistory.org Lesson Plan Rubric
| Field | Criteria | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Content | Is historically accurate? | Materials have been well researched. Content on the Densho site is very thorough. |
| Historical Content | Includes historical background? | Students study an introductory section before beginning film analysis. |
| Historical Content | Requires students to read and write? | Newsreel activity requires students write a film review. Optional activities may include reading primary sources. |
| Analytic Thinking | Requires analysis/construction of interpretations using evidence? | Constructing interpretations and evidence-based judgments is central to most activities. |
| Analytic Thinking | Requires close reading and attention to source information? | Each activity is organized around a different type of source. Much encourages critical thinking. |
| Scaffolding | Appropriate for stated audience? | Basic activities appropriate for any high school class. Other activities range in difficulty. |
| Scaffolding | Includes scaffolding materials and strategies? | Worksheets and discussion questions are provided to scaffold student thinking. |
| Lesson Structure | Includes assessment criteria focused on historical understanding? | No assessment strategies included in all activities. |
| Lesson Structure | Defines clear learning goals and progresses logically? | Learning objectives are explicitly stated. |
| Lesson Structure | Includes clear directions; realistic for classrooms? | Clear directions. Detailed advice on classroom use provided. |
